Double Standards Hamper Uighur Defense
Uighurs are not as well known as Palestinians. This means there is not as much defense for the Uighurs as for the Palestinians. The Palestinian issue is the mother of all conflicts
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The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Standar Ganda Hambat Pembelaan Uighur
The photo captured on May 10, 2022, shows a number of Uighur residents displaying pictures of their families and relatives who are still being detained at Vocational Education and Training Centers (VETCs) in several regions in Xinjiang, China, on charges of terrorism.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS - The defense of Uighur is hindered by Western double standards. This situation is exacerbated by the actions of several Uighur figures who criticize Hamas in the 2023 Gaza war.
The view was conveyed by Imam Addaruqutni, the Vice Rector of PTIQ University Jakarta, and Pipip A Rifai Hasan, a lecturer at Paramadina University Jakarta. They respond to the ongoing touring campaign by Uighur figure living in the United States, Abdulhakim Idris. Since early December 2023, Idris has visited several universities in Indonesia.
Imam stated that it is regrettable that some Uighur figures compare their struggle to the liberation of Palestine. "The struggle for Palestine and Uighur are equally important. However, the issue of Palestine is the mother of all conflicts. If the issue is resolved, various conflicts in the world will be solved," he said on Thursday (14/12/2023) in Jakarta.
Also read: Uighur Human Rights Institutions Ask for Indonesian Support
He also regretted the official statement of the World Uyghur Congress which instead criticized Hamas in the Gaza War of 2023. "The statement could distort the struggle's efforts," said the Secretary General of the Indonesia Mosque Council (DMI).
Without condemning Hamas or comparing oneself to Palestine, the efforts of the Uighurs have already been difficult. This is because there is a perception that their efforts are simply a Western-made fabrication to attack China.
Idris and various Uighur figures are known to live in the US. A number of US recipients of APBN funds openly admit to disbursing funds to various Uighur groups.
The Uighur community and advocates in Turkey held a protest in Istanbul, Turkey in March 2021. Some Uighur ethnic groups outside of China continue to strive for the establishment of a separate Uighur state from China.
From 2004-2020, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) acknowledged providing a grant of 8.78 million US dollars to various Uighur groups. NED is an independent institution that receives funding from the US government budget.
One of the Vice Presidents of WUC, Omer Kanat, visited several countries with representatives of institutions receiving the US State Department funding. Kanat has previously visited Indonesia.
Imam stated that, in line with its capacity, Indonesia has repeatedly discussed the Uighur issue. These efforts are part of Indonesia's contribution to help solve the Uighur problem. "It is not accurate to say that Indonesia does not care about the Uighur," he said.
Approaches and various efforts from Indonesia, both the government and community representatives, regarding the Uighur issue have been ongoing for years. Multiple representatives from Indonesian community organizations have exchanged ideas with Uighur leaders and the Chinese government repeatedly.
Be consistent
Meanwhile, Pipip stated that there is a different treatment by the US and its allies towards Israel and China. Although both have been accused of oppressing Muslim groups, Israel has practically never been sanctioned by the US and its allies.
"They (the US and its allies) should be consistent. Because both of them, whether it is Israel or China, are occupying the territory of other nations," he said in the seminar "Understanding the History and Culture of the Uyghur Society" held by Paramadina University.
Also read: Some Members of the UN Human Rights Council Consider the Xinjiang Issue an Internal Affairs of China
The inconsistency of the United States and some of its allies is complicating the defense of the Uighur. "Moral questions arise: why the difference in attitudes towards the two cases?" he said.
He reminded that for the majority of Indonesians, Uighur may not be as well-known as Palestine. This makes the defense for Uighur not as much as for Palestine.
President of the Indonesian Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Youth, Astrid Nadya Rizqita, stated that the bond between Palestine and Indonesia is incredibly long. Therefore, it is understandable if there is an impression that Palestine is given more attention by Indonesia and the OIC.
Meanwhile, in fact, OKI has repeatedly voiced their concern about the Uighur issue. OKI's youth has also done so repeatedly.
According to him, it cannot be denied that there are questions regarding the anti-Muslim stance given to China due to the Uighur issue. This is because in China, there are also Hui ethnicities who mostly embrace Islam. Unlike Uighurs, there are practically no issues in the relationship between Hui and the Chinese government.
